The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-02
:. - ,vorId he adhered to by Dir. HAYES

S,iI protection in Ill their rights and prlvi-
ieaes: no persecution Of Republicans f0r past
s,oit;rrI COUd1ict, but no intHtnnifp for GTinteS
p'"The election Of a long term Senator will
be decided by the Legislature Of Louisiana
ri an extra session."
NOTHING WAS DONE IN A CORNER,
az has been charged, but given to the world
Ct tie time The battle was won before the
Hayes commission tine 70 Louisiana.
N.f1he opponents OF Gov. McEnery in dis
crssjng the question of the Penitentary
lease, and the relation Of convict labor to
Tree labor, have freely charged throughout
The length and breadth Of The State that the
Responsibility exists upon Gov. DIaEnery for
fhe continuation Of that lease. He has been
criticised for using the convict forces OF the
State upon the reconstruction Of the leyees.
s.Peghap5 it is not generally known to the
people Of the State, what the real history of
5his convict lease is. | will not go into the
entire history Of the lease for lack Of time,
hut simply state the fact, which is easily
maintained. that the only opportunity that
has existed in this State since the time the
lease Was created, In 1867 or 1868, to ter
lninats it was in 1878 or 1879, when the
Torrance Of their obligations. Under The
terms OF the contract, when the contrac-
tors failed TO- perform their part of it, the
Governor OF the State was at liberty to enter
into possession OF the cOnvicts and take such
steus as he might see proper to put them at
work for the benefit of the State. Recognize
ing tie fact and asserting the fact that the
STATE al that time was unabl5 to care for the
conyiCts, having TO proper appropriation,
aoy. EICHOLLs RECOMMENDED TO THE GEN.
ERAL ASSEMBLY
chat T. compromise be effected of the in
deb:edness, and that the lease be continued.
There was no modi ication in his recomuen-
daton. Tho terms OF the lease stipulate that
the lessee has the right to work the convicts
inmechanlcal pursuits, or wherever, in fact,
he may. see proper. Then was the time, ii
protection was to be thrown around free
labor to act, ana II WAS by their candidate
that the opportunity should have been seized
upon 10 insist that III continuation OF the
lease, it should be somodiiied as to protect
free labor.
"This lease cano into Gov. McTnery,s
hands, transmitted from his predecessor, q
contract which it was impossible for him to
terminate or abTidge until it should have
been violated by the lessees.
ION the question OF using the convict
labor against free labor in the reconstruction
OF the leyees scarcely thought that there
could be any question with the people of this
State. Labor organizations themselves, III
the City Of New Orleans, all express the gen.
eral sentiment that they can see no point
wherein il would come least in conflict with
free labor than upon the Ieyecs of the State.
The work that is performed upon the. leyees
OF the State by free labor IL generally done by
men who are hired and brought down the
time; but so far as the responsibility III such
il is) is concerned, | beg to say that that
question was fully debated before the last
Democratic convention, and IN their plat
form found the following resolution:
Res0'red, That the convict labor of the State
shall be appropriated and assigned to labor on
the public feyee5 under the direction and con-
troll Of the State authorities By such legislation
as hey be necessary.
II have heard it stated in Caddo parish,
and think in every parish throughout the
length and breadth OF this State, thst the
State Democratic administration of Louis
cratic Administration. / have not heard
that statement made once or twice, but it
has been made hundreds of times since
the Inauguration Of Mr.. Cleveland. [ want
TO say as q member OF the state admlnis-
tratiou, and as one who has had an opportu-
nifty to know the sentiments OF those COM
posing it, that snch q statement is utterly
without foundation, There was time in
the early history of. his official career. soon
after his inaugura ton, when his mind had
been poisoned by those who sought to grasp
the Federal power i'll this State and use it az
3 leverage to control the local affairs of
Louisiana, when an effort was made (which
was partially successfully to poison the PTes-
dents mind with the Idea that the State Dem
ocratic administration of Louisiana was
corrupt and improper organization, unwor-
thy OF his confidence and respect, and when
A CERTAIN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE
which seemed TO indicate that that impress,
Sion prevailed in the Presidents mind. There
wasa response from Senator OF this State
that seemed to indicate hostility: but here
is what came afEerward, and what know of
my own knowledge vas TRANSFERRING when l
passed through Washington. | bad been
member Of the National Democratic Conyen-
ton, friend OF Grover Cleveland, a sup
porter Of his in the National Convention. ole
who used his influence for months before to
secure his elevation to Office, and one who
sat MS an advocate OK his III the Chlrsgo con-
yentinn. Passing, through Washington q
Cabinet officer said to ME: Have you seen
the President?' | said: NO, sir; and have
no desire to see him until he has desire to
know the. truth about those whom represent
wronc. You should go y. 10 him if he
has been deceived A few days after
ward | received telegram asking me to
come to Washington and stating that the
President desired to have conference with
me on Louisiana affairs. | went. There was
n full, frank conference. and statement on
my part OF the Impressions created upon the
minds of my friends throughout this State
that he had been nlisled, and that in making
his appointments III this State he had III
tended to express his dlsapprobation of the
policies and Of the individuals composing the
State Democratic administration. What was
his answer? He said Sir, | am a Demo-
erat. | believe in Democratic unity
and Democratic harmony IN Louisiana,
policies are aimed to secure Democratic SIC
CESS in the future. | may. differ with lnem-
bers OF my party, butmy aim Is to secure and
promote the supremacy and the success OF
the Democratic party Of the country. l have
no intention OF casting any reflection upon
The State administration In Louisiana, or It's
policies, and should the men who have been
appointed to Federal offices in your State
dare to use their official positions in the local
politics of the State it shall not be tolerated"
We parted at The door OF his room. Com-
ing. to me, he said: I desire the goodwill
and the friendship of your friends in Louisi-
sna,all 2f them, and laying his hand upon
my shoulder-eyen Eustis. Laughter, and
cries Of 'HurrAh for Euatis."I
1 repeated the conversation to the Sena-
tor, and when those, two bold, honorable
statesmen came together, they found that
each was iaboring for the unity and the
success and harmony of the Democratic
party
Jonas has made an aliusion to certain dicSa-
ton that was, attempted upon him il this
parish. feel that ii is not out OF place for
me to say-although | am not called upon to
say It-that the position assumed By the hon
orable gentleman here in 1887 is precisely
ne position which, he ,annoupced to me in
March of 1885, when he could have had his
commission IN thirty minutes. My opinion
Il that he would have had it anyhow: but he
Would haze had his commission without de-
lay. when he was questioned upon the
Hotht CT his course IN the politics OF
this State growing ont Of reports that had
come that he had given allegiance to fac
ton, he said to me, If get this Office will
get, 1t upon my standing with the President
and upQn my services to the Democratic
party, II | cannot have it upon that don't
want the Office at all. Cheers and prolonged
appAnse.l | have given no pledges and !
propose to give none.
STAND UPON by RECORD AS A 5tAN
and Is sn officer, and will have the Office
upon that or notciaim it at all. ICries 'Hur-
ran for Jonas!"I
Whatever may have said tonight that may
seem h?rgh has not been said With view Of
promoting strife in the Democratic party.
You must admit that there has been cam
IalalI nrOEraasiu. in this Eta .a for several